International Journal of Tropical Medicine
ISSN: Online 1818-779XISSN: Print 1816-3319
Abstract
Dengue fever is a widespread tropical disease with a significant morbidity rate. While its primary symptoms are well‐documented, neurological complications are less understood, especially in pediatric populations. This study aims to identify the incidence and clinical spectrum of neurological complications in children diagnosed with dengue. A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving 246 children diagnosed with dengue fever admitted to a tertiary care hospital over two years. Patient data including demographic information, clinical symptoms, laboratory results and outcomes were collected. The incidence of neurological complications was calculated and their relationship with disease severity, outcomes and other clinical parameters was analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. In the cohort of 246 pediatric patients with dengue fever a variety of neurological complications were observed. Specifically, seizures were the most common, affecting 12.2% of the patients, followed by encephalitis in 6.1%, other specified complications in 4.1%, meningitis in 3.3% and Guillain‐Barre Syndrome in 2.0%. The statistical analysis revealed significant associations for some complications, with seizures (OR 3.0, p = 0.01) and encephalitis (OR 2.5, p = 0.03) showing notable odds ratios, indicating a higher likelihood of occurrence in the dengue patient population. Neurological complications in children with dengue are not uncommon and present with a wide clinical spectrum. This study provides valuable data on the incidence and nature of neurological manifestations in pediatric dengue patients. Healthcare providers should be aware of these complications for timely diagnosis and improved patient care. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying these neurological manifestations and to develop targeted therapeutic strategies.
How to cite this article:
Shubhangi Patil Ganvir, Harish Tambekar and K. Balkishan Choudhari. Neurological Complications in Children with Dengue: Incidence and Clinical Spectrum.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/10.36478/makijtm.2024.1.19.23
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1816-3319/10.36478/makijtm.2024.1.19.23